When he was 13 years old, Zain Ali’s family came to the Bay Area from Fiji, a South Seas island slightly smaller than New Jersey, where Muslims such as the Alis were a minority. That was in the 1980s, when there were far fewer Muslims living in the Bay Area, a time when his family had to drive 40 miles to reach the nearest mosque.

Today, the Bay Area Muslim population is approximately 300,000 strong. And Ali, his wife and two young daughters have a handful of mosques to choose from in their adopted hometown of Fremont, where
they belong to the 300-member Islamic Society of the East Bay mosque. Still, he’d like his children to get to know other Muslims living in the region. And he wants non-Muslims to get to know his family, too.

”We’re just as American as anyone else,” says Ali, 32, who followed in his father’s footsteps
to become an accountant. Ali and others who share his faith have organized the Sept. 25 Muslim Unity Day in Santa Clara. Open to the public, the first-time event is expected to bring together Muslims of all races and denominations for a day of play and socializing at Paramount’s Great America.

Visit www.MuslimUnity.us.
Q: Why does the Bay Area need a Muslim Unity Day?

A: With all the things happening in the world and the Muslim community being attacked specifically in the U.S., we said it’s about time we came together to show the community at large and to strengthen ourselves . . . We live here, we pay our taxes. What better way than (going) to a theme park, it’s all American.

We’re also going to organize a Hurricane Katrina relief campaign.

We’ll invite one of the disaster relief organizations (to attend). We’ll be encouraging people who attend to please donate. The (public) is invited to participate and learn from us, any questions they have they can ask us.

Q: The Muslim community isn’t a monolithic group. Whom do you expect to attend?

A: We have the Sunnis, which are the majority. We have the Shi’a. We have members from the Nation of Islam. The majority of (Bay Area Muslims) are from Southeast Asia, say India and Pakistan and the
Middle East. . . We also like to know who are other Muslims we live among, to see who the other Muslims in the community are. As far as race is concerned, you’ll be seeing whites, blacks, people
from every continent. As a parent, it’s a good opportunity for my children to know other Muslims from different races.

Q: What’s the biggest misconception Americans have about Muslims?

A: The biggest misconception they have is of who Muslims really are. They’re getting little tidbits in a very negative way, mostly from the media. One of the reasons we want to have (Muslim Unity Day) is so they can come and get to know us. We do go to things like theme parks that all other Americans do.

In terms of religion, it’s very similar to Christianity. Muslims, Jews and Christians come from the Abrahamic faith. All three religions teach the oneness of one god, that’s our foundation.

Q: What’s your favorite religious memory?

A: I still remember the first Hajj, the pilgrimage we make to Mecca. I was 28 when I went. I took my kids when they were 7 and 8. It’s an emotional event. I got to see 2 million or 3 million people from different parts of the world. I was amazed and my daughters were stunned (at) the amount of people there and yet the sense of community with everybody.

For some reason, you feel like everybody’s related to you.

Q: What’s the most touching or beautiful aspect of Islamic teaching to you?

A: The basic concept that there’s no racism at all, that everybody’s equal. There’s no class standard. It’s one whole community.

Q: How do you incorporate your faith into daily life?

A: I practice my faith on a daily basis. I go to work and when (it’s time for) the noon prayer, I excuse myself or take my lunch and go to prayers at my mosque. I know companies in America that offer employees a break room (for their prayers). The five (daily) prayers that we do are supposed to be in congregation with the imam, the spiritual leader.

You are reciting part of the Koran.

Q: What’s one of the biggest challenges to being Muslim in the United States today?

A: Right now, everything for us it’s not right in terms of how people judge us. We constantly have to correct people’s (misinformation). It’s very challenging and a difficult uphill battle. At the same time, it’s a good thing for us. We get to practice our faith, (such as) being patient.

Q: What’s one of the best parts of being a Muslim in the United States?

A: The amount of freedom we have. We can practice our faith anywhere . . . And I appreciate how many people know about Islam and how respectful they are; they’re always ready to embrace us. That’s one of the greatest things about America, the kind of respect people show.

Q: Is there a figure written about in the Koran who you most admire?

A: The Koran talks about the prophet Muhammad and the prophets Jesus and Moses and Abraham. In my eyes, all these people are good people, prophets. They all did miracles and good to humanity. I very highly regard all of them, not just Muhammad.

Q: If you could make your fellow Americans understand any specific thing about Islam, what would you choose?

A: We are a very peaceful people. We don’t cause harm nor do we (allow) harm to be caused to any other people. Islam teaches us that if you kill one human being, you have destroyed all humanity. And if you save one human being, you have saved all humanity.

Any people who (kill) they are in Islam not regarded as Muslim.

Muslim Unity Day is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 25 at Paramount’s Great America, on Great America Parkway, between highways 101 and 237 in Santa Clara. Admission is $22 to $35. Lunch will be served
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; a $12 lunch ticket is required. For advance tickets and schedule of prayers and
activities, visit www.MuslimUnity.us.

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